Well deserved recognition for valued stakeholders

Royal Life Saving WA recently gave Awards to two people who’ve been instrumental in the success of our Swim and Survive Access and Equity program in Perth’s northern suburbs. Mark Thompson and Lisbeth Comissao have made a significant contribution to programs that ensure multicultural children in their community have an opportunity to learn vital swimming and water safety skills.

Mark Thompson is the Head of Health and Physical Education at Dianella Secondary College, and received the Royal Life Saving WA’s Associate Award for 3-5 years of service. Mark has been an exceptional and valued stakeholder of Royal Life Saving through the organisation’s and delivery of the Dianella Swim & Survive program.

This program has been running for 4 years, providing Swim & Survive lessons to approximately 200 students through a 5 week in-term program each year, and 120 kids from CaLD backgrounds in an eight-week Saturday program. Mark’s contribution to this program has varied from organizing instructor resources and class time tables through to debriefing his own staff and promoting the importance of swimming and water safety education to his community.

Mark’s support and commitment to this program has been instrumental in its success, and the strong engagement it receives from the local community. Royal Life Saving is extremely thankful to Mark for his valued contribution.

Lisbeth Comissao works with the Edmund Rice Centre, and received the Royal Life Saving President’s Award for 3-5 years of service. Lisbeth is responsible for the Local Parks Program, which ensures disadvantaged youth in the North Metropolitan area have access to sport and recreation - and in this case swimming lessons.

Royal Life Saving WA has been running Swim & Survive lessons with the Edmund Rice Centre Community for the past 4 years, catering for 20 children per term who receive subsided swimming lessons at Leisurepark Balga, a Royal Life Saving Endorsed Swim School.

The Edmund Rice Centre WA plays an important role for the Access and Equity team, by providing support for cultural challenges and barriers, conducting administration work such as collecting enrolment forms and assisting in the organisation of class lists, and promotes the importance of swimming and water safety education to their community.

We’re grateful to the Edmund Rice Centre WA and Lisbeth herself for making this program successful and helping Royal Life Saving as we work to reduce drowning statistics within WA’s multicultural communities.

We look forward to seeing the continued success of these programs with Dianella Secondary College and the Edmund Rice Centre, as children learn vital skills to play safely in and around the water.

You can find out more about our Swim and Survive Access and Equity program for multicultural communities at the link below.